- ~ orm No. 10-300 ~0~1 UNiTED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE flNAME HISTORIC Magnolia Building ~-~XC’~ AND/OR COMMON Mobil Oil Corporation Building 1 LOCATION STREET& NUMBER Commerce at Akard (108 South Akard) CITY. TOWN CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT Dallas — VICINITY OF STATE CODE COUNTY CODE Texas Dallas CLA SSIFI CATI ON CATEGORY OWNERSHIP STATUS PRESENT USE ~XBUILDING(S) XPRIvATE ~UNOCCUPIED STRUCTURE IN PROGRESS RESIDENCE PUBLIC ACQUISITION ACCESSIBLE XJN PROCESS RESTRICTED CONSIDERED XYES: UNRESTRICTED ~JNDUSTRIAL DOWNER OF PROPERTY NAME .. ,...--Mobil Oil Corporation STR~&UM~ 1201 Elm ~)~IJ ~ + ‘l ~ ~-~jt,).A’~ ~‘vi.. •~‘t’_~t~ ~. ~rv’s r: ~ . .z.’~ 1L ~ CITY. TOWN 1 STATE Dallas — VICINITY OF ~ L—~’-~~, :. ~ LOCATION OF LEGAL DESCRIPTION• COURTHOUSE. ~ REGISTRY OF DEEDS,ETC Dallas County Court Rouse STREET& NUMBER 600 Commerce Street CITY. TOWN STATE Dallas Texas REPRESENTATION IN EXISTING SURVEYS TITLE Drury Blake Alexander, Dallas Historic Landmark Survey DATE September 14, 1974 _FEDERAL ..STATE COUNTY ~LOCAL DEPOSITORYFOR Alexander’s “Landmark Priority Designation” assigns “First SURVEYRECORDSPrioritv?~ status to both the Magnolia Building and Pegasus. CITY. TOWN STATE — NATTO AL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTO Y -- N I MINATION FOR FOR NP$ USE ONLY RECEi~EQ ..~ bATE EN~ED .. SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN HOW TO COMPLETE NATIONAL ~ TYPE ALL ENTRIES --COMPLETE APPLICABLE SECTIONS k
Transcript
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orm No. 10-300 ~0~1
UNiTED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIORNATIONAL PARK SERVICE
flNAMEHISTORIC
Magnolia Building ~-~XC’~AND/OR COMMON
Mobil Oil Corporation Building
1 LOCATIONSTREET& NUMBER
Commerce at Akard (108 South Akard)CITY. TOWN CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
Dallas — VICINITY OF
STATE CODE COUNTY CODE
Texas Dallas
CLASSIFI CATI ON
CATEGORY OWNERSHIP STATUS PRESENT USE
~XBUILDING(S) XPRIvATE ~UNOCCUPIED
STRUCTURE IN PROGRESS RESIDENCE
PUBLIC ACQUISITION ACCESSIBLEXJN PROCESS RESTRICTED
CONSIDERED XYES: UNRESTRICTED ~JNDUSTRIAL
DOWNER OF PROPERTYNAME ..
,...--Mobil Oil CorporationSTR~&UM~
1201 Elm
~)~IJ ~ + ‘l~ ~-~jt,).A’~ ~‘vi.. •~‘t’_~t~ ~.
~rv’s r: ~. .z.’~ 1L ~
CITY. TOWN 1 STATE
Dallas — VICINITY OF ~ L—~’-~~, :.
~ LOCATION OF LEGAL DESCRIPTION•COURTHOUSE.
~ REGISTRY OF DEEDS,ETC Dallas County Court RouseSTREET& NUMBER
DEPOSITORYFOR Alexander’s “Landmark Priority Designation” assigns “FirstSURVEYRECORDSPrioritv?~ status to both the Magnolia Building and Pegasus.CITY. TOWN STATE
—
NATTO AL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACESINVENTO Y -- N I MINATION FOR
FOR NP$ USE ONLY
RECEi~EQ..~
bATE EN~ED ..
SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN HOW TO COMPLETE NATIONAL~TYPE ALL ENTRIES --COMPLETE APPLICABLE SECTIONS
k
7 DESCRIPTION
CONDITION CHECK ONE CHECK ONE
2~EXCELIiNT _DETERIORATED _UNALTERED XORIGINAL SITE
GOOD _RIJINS ~cALTERED (slightly) _MOVED DATE________
_FAiR _UNEXPOSED
DESCRIBE THE PRESENT AND ORIGINAL (IF KNOWN) PHYSICAL APPEARANCE
Begun in 1921, the Magno1j~ Building (later called the Mobil Building)was completed in August, 1922. It is 29 stories in height, plus two basements. The building’s frontage is 100 feet on Akard Street and 160 feeton Commerce Street. The exterior facing is tan-colored Indiana limestone
~1 and has a heavy, dentulated cornice,
The building’s symmetrical massing has a two part scheme with a recessed central light well on the front (south) facade, Twin pavilionsrising from the third story are joined by a flying segmental arch at the17th story. The main body of the U—shape plan rises 24 stories from thestreet level. Additional attic stories and cupola tower add 5 stories,but are set back from the mainma.ss of the building. The first three
a stories are solidly massed, the first two broken only by the fenestrationof windows...an-d~door-s-o.f an inappropriately scaled 1950’s facade alteration.The west, north, and east facades are unbroken in massing with the exception of a projecting pavilion ( approximately 25’ x 25’) on the northportion of the east facade. These elevations of the building and attachedpavilion also rise the full 24 stories with the upper attic storiesrecessed above.
Terminating each of the two front pavilions is a set back attic storywith a hipped tile roof. A large finial rests at the apex of the fronthip. A single round arch dormer projects from each of the front hips ofthe roofs and three like dormers are on the side slopes of the roofs.
4 Symmetrically spaced single windows penetrate the walls of this firstattic story. The hipped roofed attic story intersects a. four story massingbehind it (to the north) which is-the uppermost portion of the main bodyof the building. A parapet wall with a set back mansard roof tops thisportion of the massing. On the east side of the topmost stories a toweris attached and rises another full story above the rest of the structure.
4 It is topped with a pyramidal roofed cupola that breaks and rises to adouble tiered cupola, reaching the maximum height of the structure. ~Thefirst level of the attic story at the rear (north) elevation is flankedby a broken pediment which intersects the recessed portion of the threehigher attic stories. The 4/4 sash windows on the 27th story are detailedwith classical pediments. Small 1/1 sash windows are on the 28th level.
ORNAMENTATION—FENESTRATION:
The ornate third story details, the decorative string courses, arches,and highly sculptural cornices and statitory are indicative of an adaptedversion of Beaux-Arts classicism applied to a 20th century high rise. Thisornamentation also indicates the degree of detail that was on the 1st twostories before the facade wasaltered more than 20 years ago1~ The intactthird story has elaborate moldings above and below window openings, The1/1 sash windows at this level are smaller in scale than the upper levelsand have a transom above them. The remaining top portion of the monumental
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Form No. 10-300aRev. 10-74)
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR FOR NPS USE ONLYNATIONAL PARK SERVICE . -
RECEIVED
-NATIONAL REGISTER OF.HISTORICPLACES - -
INVENTORY -- NOMINATI • N FORM bATE ENTERED
CONT1 NUATION SHEET ITEM NUMBER 7 PAGE 2
three story entrance archis coffered and has a tripartite window arrangment inset in the arch. A fluted scroll patterned elaboration is pla,cedat the keystone position of the arch, The statuary supported by the arcis almost a full story high (a grouping of several figures flanking acentral medallion with eagle atop), It rests between the two separatelyrising pavilions which are joined again at the 17th story by a flying• segmental arch which supports a pier and beam columnated structure at le18. Fluted pilasters with Corinthian capitals divide the windows into aABA pattern (paired—single—paired) on the facade of each pavilion, Thewindows on the entire front facade follow this arrangement, 1/1 sash
— windows on the west and east and within the recessed light well are ingroups of three, separated by the pilaster strips, Rear window (northelevation) are in a “BBA BB ABB” arrangement (single-single-paired-singletc.) The assymetrical shaft at the north end of the east facade isdetailed as is the rest of the building and has paired 1/1. sash windows,The vertical emphasis of the structure is broken at several points withstring courses of various moldings, some discontinuous at the point ofintersection with the pilaster elements, and some wrapping around theentire building, A dentiled string course above the 4th: story is brokenby the pilaster strips. Continuous bracketed string courses above the 8and a a decorative semi—circular motif course above the 9th has a continuous molding crossing thepilasters, The bracketed string course abovethe 10th story is broken by the pilasters, This pattern repeats on the16th, 17th, and 18th stories and the first two continuous courses on the23rd and 24th stories, In the frieze below the cornice are small windowopenings. The elaborately bracketed cornice terminates the main mass ofthe building,
The first two floors originally had Ionic pila.sters that were 32 fein height with two Ionic columns at the entrance, The building was“modernized” in the 1950s, and a gra,nite facing was added to the firsttwo floors, covering all limestone details that assuredly remain,
The walls are of heavy masonry construction, approximately 24 inchethick, and encase the steel frame,
The first floor, 7—elevator, circulation lobby remains una1t~redwith Italian Tavernelle marble walls, Italian Travertine marble floorborders, American walnut woodwork, and a ceiling of hand-painted, po].y—chromatic, plaster of paris rosettes, The office halls have marble wainScot ing,
A three-story wing on the (‘ommerce Street side assures that no builing will be closer than 20 feet to the upper floors of the Magnolia Builing.
r~——r~- - — -~ -.
Form No 10-300a~Rev. 10-74)
UNITED STATES DIiI~ARTMLNr OF THE IN1ERIOR FOR NPS USE ONLYNATIONAL PARK SERVICE
RECEIVED
NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACESINVENTORY -- NOMINATION FORM ~DATE ENTERED
CONTINUATION SHEET ITEM NUMBER 7 PAGE 3
The building is slightly over 400 feet in height,
On the building’s roof is the famous double-hoxse sign, Pegasus7 -
a landmark for the entire region.
SIGNIFICANCE
._ARCH EO LOGY- PR E HI STOR IC
_ARCHEOLOGY-HISTORIC
_AG Fl Cu LTU RE
.XARCHITECTURE
_A RT
COMMERCE
_COMMUNICATIONS
_SCULPTURE-- - .SOCIAL/HUMANITARIAN
_THEATER
_TRANSPORTATION
.._.OTHER (SPECIFY)
In 1922 the city of Dallas had a population of over 160,000?making it the second largest city in the state of Texas, Inlater years, the city spread in all directions, but in the 1920sit was known as the skyscraper center of the Southwest, In 1922it had 64 buildings from 6 to 29 stories in height., and therewere two more scheduled for completion that year, One of these,the Magnolia Building, opened on August 14, 1922, and quicklybecame the outstanding landmark of the Dallas skyline.
~t~JOkP42 QlL~ !~I ~Begun in 1921, the Magnolia Building was d~s-i.gn~d and builtfor the Magnolia Petroleum Company, producer O~ocon~~and,later, Mobil petroleum products, The company itseYf~ of course,was a pioneer in the nation’s oil business. Starting as aseries of smaller companies, it fed on the great Spindletopfind in 1901, one of the greatest oil discoveries ever made,Located first in Corsicana, the corilpany soon moved to Dallas,symbolizing the city’s burgeoning importance in the oil industry.
AREAS OF SIGNIFICANCE -- CHECK AND JUSTIFY BELOW.~COMMUNITY PLANNING. _LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE _REUGION
_CONSERVATION _LAW
..XECONOMICS
_EDUCATION
_E NG IN E ER I NG
_EXPLORATION/SETTLEM ENT
.~INDUSTRY
_INVENTION
_SCIENCE
STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE
PERIOD
....PREHISTORIC
_1400-1499
_1500-1599 _LITERATURE
.....1600-1699 _MILITARY
1700-1799 MUSIC
.__1800-1899 PHILOSOPHY
X1900. _POLITICS/GOVERNMENT
. —-“
~ Fébruary 1921 BUILDER/ARCHITECT Alfred C. Bossom—N,Y,, London ~Completed: August 1922 Lang & Witchell—Assoc. Arch., Dallas
Since its completion in 1922, the Magnolj~ Building ~ beenone of Dallas’ most outst~ndjng buildings, Designed by a wellknown British architect, it has architectural, economic, andindustrial significance, It housed the Ma,gnolja, (later Mobil)Oil Company, served as an early headquarters for the oil industry,and became a symbol of the city of Dallas, Pegasus, the flyingred horse on the building’s roof has become a landn~rk almostas well known as the building itself, Drury Blake Alexanderassigns the Magnolia Building, and Pegasus, “First Priority”status in the city.
(See attached for continuation)
Form No. 10-300a(11ev. 10-74)
UNITEE) STATES DEPARTMENT 01: THE INTERIOR FOR NPS USE ONLYNATIONAL PARK SERVICE -
RECEIVED
NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACESINVENTORY--NOMINATIONFOR OATEENTERED
CONTINUATION SHEET ITEM NUMBER 8 PAGE 2
When completed~ the M~gno1ia Building, publicized as oneof the most attractive office buildings in the country, alsoreflected that growing connection bet~een Dallas and oil.
In 1922, the building was the sixteenth tallest buildingin the United States, and most of its rivals were located inone city, New York City. Outside of New York City, only threebuildings in the country were taller: the City Hall, inPhiladelphia; the Travelers’ Insurance Building, in Hartford,Connecticut; and the L.C. Smith Building, in Seattle, Washington.
As its architect proudly pointed out, the Magnolia Buildingwas taller than any building in Europe. It remained Dallas’highest structure for almost twenty years. From the top,visitors and tenants could view a broad panorama of the city,the Trinity River bottoms, the surrounding residential areas,the Texas flatlands, and even (with binoculars, on a clear day)the skyline of Fort Worth. Seen from the countryside, thebuilding dominated everything around it. It was, as a reportersaid on opening day, “like a great peg driven into th~ groundholding Dallas in its place from no matter which direction thetown is approached.” - - -
Renaissance revival in design, it cost $4,000,000 to build.It included innovative features that today are still unsurpassed.The heavy masonry construction provides excellent resistance tofire. The walls are approximately 24 inches thick, consistingof limestone, brick, plastic plaster, a 3-inch air space and a4-inch hollow brick wall, encasing the steel frame. A recentrenovation study found that the building would withstand anyforeseeable fire without serious damage to its structuralintegrity.
The roof of the building is one of the early uses of greentile over concrete.
The building has its own well, a rarity in Dallas and theregion.
It is heated by oil, but the designer also installed asystem of coal tunnels and coal storage areas in case the oil
FOR NPS USE ONLY
RECEIVED
DATE ENTERED
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gave out. The heaters for the building are also capable ofconversion into coal-burners.
In an era that doted on sizes and statistics, the newowners pointed proudly to the building’s thousands of electriclights, the electric conduit that would stretch from Dallas toFort Worth, the electric wiring that would stretch from Dallasto Austin, the 1700 telephones, the seven high-speed elevators,the 500 offices, and so on. To maintain the building’s purity,the Magnolia Company forbade signs or displays in the windows.
Sir Alfred Charles Bossom, the building’s designer, wasan internationally-known architect, author, critic, andstatesman. A baron in the British nobility, he served as aConservative member of Parliament until retirement in 1959.
Born in 1881, Bossom trained at St. Thomas School and theArchitectural School of the Royal Academy of the Arts. Hecame to the United States in 1903, already an architect -ofsome reputation, and established offices in New York City,at 680 Fifth Avenue. In a long and successful care~r, hedesigned dozens of major -buildings across the country, focusingparticularly on skyscrapers, a design feature he felt was notsuitable for his native England. As his son put it afterhis death: “He said the light was not right, the temperamentof the peopfe was not right and he didn’t want to dot up thehistorical buildings.”
In the United States conditions were clearly “right”.After arrival, Bossom designed a number of skyscrapers,including the Magnolia Building; the Seaboard National Bank,in New York City; the First National Bank, in Jersey City,New Jersey; the American Exchange National Bank, in Dallas;and the Liberty Bank, in Buffalo, New York. He also designedhousing for workers at United States Steel, in Pittsburgh, in1904; headed the restoration planning at Ft. Ticonderoga,in 1908; planned industrial villages for American munitionsplants during World War I; and became supervising architectfor the United States Shipping Board, in 1917-1918. InEngland, he introduced prefabricated housing shortly beforeWorld War II.
Form No. 10-300a()iev 10-74)
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERiORNATIONAL PARK SERVICE
~. NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACESINVENTORY-~NOMIrsJA’rJoNFoRM
.,. ICONTINUATION SHEET ITEM NUMBER 8
-.4
I
FORNPSUSCONLY
•~;i~~RECEIVED~ .- •;_
DATE ENTERED
PAGE 4
Bossom’s designs often followed European patterns, especiallySpanish and Italian models. He liked columns and ornate designs.He was particularly proud of the Magnolia Building, which hedesigned with the intent to establish Dallas as the center ofthe oil industry in the Southwest. When finished, he exclaimedin his exuberant style: “This is the tallest structure everbuilt south of Washington, D.C., including the Aztecs!”
Toward the end of his career, Bossom was elected chairmanof the Royal Society of the Arts (1957-1959).
He also established the Alfred C. Bossom TravelingScholarship, awarded annually by the Royal Institute of BritishArchitects for architectural study in the United States; andthe Bossom Lectures and Scholarship, for investigating newprocesses in building. The latter indicated his interest inmodern technological processes, which he often tried•~~•to combinewith classical forms. In 1952 Bossom received an honorarydegree from the University of Pittsburgh. He published widely,including: Building to the Skies; An Architectural Pilgrimagein Old Mexico; A Bird’s Eye View of Europe; Some Reminiscenses;and numerous articles on architectural and political subjects.
The Magnolia Building has remained Dallas’ prime landmarkuntil the present day. In June 1934, the Magnolia Oil Companyplaced a 40-foot long by 30-foot high, red neon sign on top ofthe building, for the meeting of the American Petroleum InstituteConvention in Dallas. (Wags immediately said Dallas was nolonger a one-horse town.) The double-horse sign was patternedafter Pegasus, the flying stallion of classical mythology.Originally white, Pegasus became red as the emblem of Soconygasoline stations in the l930s. The sign stood on a 50-foottower, revolved at 11/3 times a minute, and contained 1,162 feetof neon tubing.
For many years “The Flying Red Horse” remained Mobil Oil’schief advertising vehicle. For seven years, the sign wasDallas’ tallest point, and for decades thereafter it remained
Form No 10-300a(11ev 10-74)
UNITED STATFS DLPARTMLNT OF THE INTERIORNATIONAL PARK SERVICE
~i NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES
I INVENTORY -- NOMINATION FORM
CONTINUATION SHEET ITEM NUMBER 8
I
I
He diedin 1965, at age 83.
Form No. 10.300a(Rev 10-74)
UNITE[) STAi’1~S [)LPARTMENT 0!: TIlE INTERiORNATIONAL PARK SERVICE
ATIONAL REG STER OF HISTORIC PLACESINVENTORY -- NO INATION FORM
FOR NPS USE ONLY
RECEIVED
DATE ENTERED
CONTI NUATION SHEET ITEM NUMBER 8 PAGE 5
it’s most famous landmark. By day, the sign, bright redagainst the blue Texas sky, was the most impressive feature ofthe Dallas skyline. By night, its lights were visible for75 miles around the city. Pilots could see the horse as faraway as Hilisboro, and some claimed to see it as far away asWaco.
energy.In 1973, the lights at last were turned off, to conserve
In March 1976, the Dallas Historic Landmark Commissiongave first priority status to the Magnolia Building and “TheFlying Red Horse.”
For than a half-century, the Magnolia Building and itsemblem have been the outstanding architectural landmarks of thecity of Dallas.
See attached list
10 GEOGRAPHICAL DATAACREAGE OF NOMINATED PROPERTY —
cj I I I I ~ I I I , I , IBI I LI ~. I ~ .1 I I I I
ZONE EASTING NORTHINGol I 1 I i I, I I I I I I I
VERBAL BOUNDARY DESCRIPTION
NE corner at Akard and Commerce Street
Akard Frontage = 100,13’Commerce Frontage 159,11’
LIST ALL STATES AND COUNTIES FOR PROPERTIES OVERLAPPING STATE OR COUNTY BOUNDARIES
STATE CODE COUNTY CODE
STATE CODE COUNTY CODE
fl FORM PREPARED BYNAME / TITLE
Joe Williams, Director Danny Hardy, Architectural HistôrianDATEORGANIZATION
The Office of National Registe~’ Programs, Texas Histoi~icaJ~ CommissionSTREET& NUMBER TELEPHONE - V -
P. o. Box 12276, Capitol Station (512) 475—3094CITY OR TOWN STATE
Austin Texas
NATION AL —
12 STATE HIS ORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER CERTIFICATIOTHE EVALUATED SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS PROPERTY WITHIN THE STATE IS:
• As the designated State Historic Preservation Officer for the Nationhereby nominate this property for inclusion in the National Reccriteria and procedures set forth by the National Park Service.
STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER SIGNATURE
STATE_ LOCAL__
of 1966 (Public Law 89-665). Ited according to the
TITLE
FORNPSUSEONLY ___VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV V V..
I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS PROPERTY IS INCLUDED IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER
DATEDIRECTOR. OFFICE OF ARCHEOLOGY AND HISTORIC PR~ SERVATION
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